RCBSM500 Mechanical Scale

It was time to replace an old Bonanza "D" scale and wanted one with magnetic damping. I first purchased a modern made Redding #2 scale but was unhappy with it, loved the 1/10 graduation marks but the scale had repeatability issues weighing the same charge 5 times (removing pan and replacing) would give one reading where the scale would read different between 0.1 to .15gr. Also whenever removing the pan or setting the weight of the charge you want to weigh (the beam hits bottom as expected) after adding powder to the pan I would always have to tap the desk the scale was sitting on to get the beam moving. Frustrated, I purchased this scale and could not be happier. I do not need to tap the desk to get the beam moving after powder to get it started to read this scale is very free swinging. I also have a set of checkweights and the scale was dead on at 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 300gr. I stopped after 300gr as thats about the limit of what I would ever need to weigh. I would remove and replace the check weighted pan several times to check repeatable measurement and the scale is spot on. Also although there are no 1/10gr graduation marks on the zero indicator as it uses 3 metal triangles to indicate 0, and .4gr above/ below. You use the base of base of the zero triangle to indicate +-0.1gr, the space between triangles as a +- .02gr ref and the inside base of the next triangle to indicate +- 0.3gr. I wanted to support US made products even though higher cost but the non repeatable measurement issue was a deal breaker. The redding scale issues may be due the fact that the bearing is steel vs agate for the RCBS M500, or the fact that the pivot of the Redding scale is cut very shallow and binds the beam on the pivot I know the older scales had deeper steel grooves and etched beams but every manufacturer now seems to be using the applied tape. I would definitely recommend this M500 scale as it is very sensitive, accurate, repeatable and the magnetic damping settles it down quickly.

Works great

Another great RCBS tool for the reloader. Have double checked it with some expensive digital scales and it is always exactly on.

Great scale

This scale works really well out of the box but isn't 100% perfect. First thing I noticed is the beam balances slope toward the pointer from the factory. This was easily remedied by placing the scale on a perfectly level surface, adding weight to the pan and measuring from that level surface to the bottom of the balance beam until both ends read the same(level) then adding that weight to the pan support. Next up was the leveling foot. The threads have a fair amount of slop which gives the scale a slight ability to rock. So I added a spring over the shaft of the foot so it keeps tension between the base and top of the foot to "takeup" that thread slop to a degree. The knife edges are sharp from the get go but I honed them a little farther to produce a razors edge. Under the agate are "pillows" that the bearing ride on. They are painted with the same hammered texture as the frame itself(thus adding a fair amount of friction to the bushings bottom surface) I carefully scraped away the paint and polished these "pillows" to a mirror shine to allow the agate to move and center a frictionless as possible. Lastly I added a small strip of felt inside the frame just under the dampening plate to aid in less vibration when the pan is removed and the beam rests. I know it sounds like a ton of work but it really wasn't bad. The scale works reliably out of the box but I am one of those people who is always looking for improvement. Now my scale sits in a custom built wind box ,where it has been fitted to the base, with a micro camera to eliminate parallax, and a trickler capable of being turned while the unit is fully enclosed. Now it is capable of showing obvious deflection with a single kernel of Varget, and repeatability to return to zero within 1/8th of the pointer line width 15 consecutive times.3 months after use. Shortly after stating the above modifications I made a few more to aid in repeatability. One thing I noticed is discrepancy in showing absolute zero when the pan was placed in any other manner than from when it was removed. It literally had to be placed EXACTLY the same way every time. I lightly bent the pan support on four side to cradle and center the pan and added a witness mark on the hanger and pan itself. Repeatability is effortless now to return to zero. I haven't touched the leveling foot in quite awhile. If it doesn't read dead zero from the get go a simple wiggling of the main poise settles it back in 9/10 times. BUT, on the other hand this scale does in fact have some linearity issues from 5-40 grains or so. Nothing outstanding but after spending a good amount of time really digging into it, this scale does in fact have warts in that department. But it is what it is. If you are looking for a good scale out of the box for handloading. This is a good one. If you are looking for a GREAT scale for precision loads, I highly recommend buying an older American made rcbs(ohaus), lyman(ohaus), redding or ohaus brand scale. They really don't make them like they use to.

Very accurate and easy to use scales. Well made.

The box it came in seems like it weighed more than the item. What was in the box was kind of dissapointing. RCBS was once a top of the line scale maker. What happened? This thing is legally a scale but not what RCBS used to be. Has the whole world became infected with the sickness of greed and chose profit over quality at the expence of thier customers? I won't be looking toward the manufacture if I need any more reloading supplies. I would not endorse this product.

Husband loves it. Good price and very reliable.